The Independents retained their majority despite a strong Labour challenge, which saw an increase in the number of candidates contesting wards outside of the industrial south and east of the county.

This occurred in four wards, including at Cwmamman, where the chairman of the council, John Phillips (Ind) was opposed by retiring councillor David Davies (Lab).

Ithel Thomas (Carmarthen) and Griffith Evans (Llanegwad) had spoken in favour of changing the system at the quarterly meeting.

The clsest contest was at Llangadog where Thomas Jones, chairman of Llandeilo Rural District Council, defeated Gwynfor Evans, the president of Plaid Cymru by one vote after three recounts.

In Ward Three, it was alleged that a Labour leaflet was distributed after dark the night before the election making personal allegationas against the defending Independent candidate, James Jones.

[5] Labour also defeated the sitting Independent at Llangeler (a rural ward where the party had been successful once before largely due to the prevalence of the woolen industry).

[6] These included four former aldermen re-elected at the election, namely Joseph Howells (Lab, Hengoed), Edward James (Ind, Llandyssilio), D.B.

[8] The successful candidate at Llangunnor, W. Parry Thomas, had recently been discharged by Carmarthen magistrates after being accused of offences during the triennial election.